Northern NSW – Residential Inspections Information
Northern NSW – Residential Inspections Information
Local Projects. Local Certifiers.
At this time, we are only accepting residential projects in the Northern Rivers area.Â
Professional Certification Group provides residential building certification services for projects located within the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. This includes new homes, renovations, alterations and additions, secondary dwellings (granny flats), and dual occupancies.
In NSW, residential building work generally requires either a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) or a Construction Certificate (CC), issued after a Development Application has been approved by Council. As private certifiers, we’re authorised to assess your plans, issue the necessary certification, and carry out mandatory inspections throughout the build—right through to final occupation.
If you’re unsure whether your project falls within our service area, feel free to get in touch—we’re happy to assist or refer you to someone who can.
Before the Build
Before any building work can begin on your site, you are required to obtain a building approval in the form of either a Construction Certificate (CC) or Complying Development Certificate (CDC).
You must make an application to PCG via the NSW Planning Portal which includes submitting your Architectural Plans along with any other documents you already have (Engineering, BASIX, Building Specifications, etc). Once the application is made and has been accepted by PCG, an assessment will be undertaken on the documents provided to ensure compliance with the Building Code of Australia, Planning Controls, and any Development Consents have been achieved. We will then provide you a list of requirements, which you will need to satisfy before we can issue the approval.
Once everything on our list of requirements is satisfied, we will issue you with a CC or CDC, which will include all the critical stage inspections that must be completed by PCG during construction. You will then need to appoint PCG as your Principal Certifier on the NSW planning portal if you haven’t done so already, and complete a pre-commencement letter which outlines conditions that must be satisfied prior to work commencing. Once that is all completed, you may begin construction.
Critical Stage Inspections
In New South Wales, a building must comply with:
- The Building Code of Australia (BCA).
- Development Consent.
- Complying Development Certificate OR Construction Certificate.
Professional Certification Group conduct the following Critical Stage Inspections (where relevant) for Class 1 and 10 residential dwellings, as a Principal Certifier:
- Commencement of Building Work;
- After excavation for and prior to the placement of any footings;
- Prior to covering any stormwater drainage connections;
- Prior to pouring of any in-situ reinforced concrete building element;
- Prior to the covering of any framework for any floor, wall, roof or other building element;
- Prior to the covering of any waterproofing in any wet areas; and
- Once building works are completed and prior to the Occupation Certificate (OC) being issued.
Occupation Certificate
An Occupation Certificate (OC) is required for any new building works approved by a Construction Certificate (CC) or a Complying Development Certificate (CDC), or a change of use of a building (where the building classification changes under the Building Code of Australia).
PCG can issue an Occupancy Certificate as a Principal Certifier. This certifies that the building is compliant with the BCA, ensuring any preconditions set out in a Development Consent or the CDC are met.Â
You will need to obtain either a Partial OC or a Final OC before the new building is occupied.CG
